Automobile-signal.



E. C. MCKENZ|E & I. P. DEVER. AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. 19l5- RENEWED SEPT.9, 1916.

1,201,482. Patented Oct. 17,1916.

ELMER C. MOKENZIE AND JOSEPH DEVER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

V AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

Speeificati.ers Patent. Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed November 22, 1915, Serial No. 62,876. Renewe d September 9, 1916. Serial No. 119,281.

I To all whom it may concern: 3

Be it known that we, ELMER C. MCKEN- 2111', and JOSEPH P. Dnvnmcitizens of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Signals; and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of-the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertairrs to make and use the same.

. This invention relates to improvements in constructed lamp which is adapted to be attached to the side of the wind-shield of an automobile and so constructed and arranged that it will take the place of the ordinary side lamps.

Another object is to provide danger and clear'signals at each side of the front of the automobilewith a controlling device on the steering wheelby means of which when a change of ,tiirection is to be made, the clear signal on the side of the car toward the direction to be taken will be extinguished and the danger signal displayed, while at the.

same time the clear signal on the other side of the 'car'will remain visible, and vice versa.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. j

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring of our signaling system; Fig. 2 is an elevation. of a wind-shield showing1 the lamps in position; Fig. 3 is an enlarge vertical section on-the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switch carried by the steering wheel.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents the side standards of the wind-shield, each of which has detachably secured thereto a clamping bracket llto which is connected a lamp casing 12. This lamp casing includes a central cylindrical body 13 and the oppositely flaring ends 14 and 15, the formerof which is slightly wider than the latter. The outer end of the forward flaring portion has a disk 19. Mounted within the cylindrical body in rear of the glass 19 is an electric lamp bulb 20. Mounted within the forward flaring portion, and below theline of the cylindrical body is a second lamp 21, in rear of whlch is an outwardly extending guard plate 22 in the form of a reflector to project the light downwardly on the road and at the same time prevent the rays of light from the lamp from shining through the red glass disks 17 and 19 and being seen from the rear.

On one of the spokes 23 of the steering wheel is mounted a plate of insulation 24, and pivotally mounted on this plate is a horizontally swinging switch lever 25, the same being mounted on a metallic pivot 26. On one end of the plate, and concentrically with the pivot 26 are two contact members 27 and 28 adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the said lever. On the other end of the plate, and also concentrically arranged I with respect to the pivot point of the lever are two other contact members 29 and 30. A suitable finger hold 31 is provided on one end of the lever and is adapted to be grasped to swing the lever on its pivot. Another contact member 32 is carried by the firstnamed end of the plate 2%1- and intermediate the members 27 and 28. These lamps may be'in a separate battery circuit on the automobile, qr maybe in the regular lighting circuit, as desired, a separate battery being shown on the drawing for the purpose of illustration. Connecting the adjacent sides of the lamps 21 is a wire 33, and extending from this wire to the contact member 32 is a wire 34. Connecting the same sides of the lamps, respectively, with the two contact members 27 and 28 are wires 35 and 36. From the other side of each of the lamps 21 is a wire 37, both of said wires being connected to one side of the battery 38. Connecting the pivot 26 with the other side of the battery is a wire 39. Connecting one side of the lamp 20 at one side of the machine with the contact member 29 is a wire 40, and similarly connecting one side of the other red lamp 20 with the other contact member 30 is a wire 41. The other side of each of the red lamps 20 is connected to the 25 through the lever, into contact member 30,

same side of the battery as the wires 37, by means of the wires 42.

In normal position, When the lever contacts With the member 32 current from the battery will flow by means of the wire 39, through the pivot 26, the lever, the contact member 32, the Wire 34, thence branching to the lamps 21 by means of the wire. 33 and returning to the other side of the battery by means of the wires 37. Bothwhite lamps or lamps 21 are burning andthe rear or red lamps '20 extinguished. Should the driver lamp on the left side of the machine, back to the-battery The current will also divide at the pivot 26, so that some of it will pass and through the wire 41 to one side of the red lamp -on the right hand side of the machine, thence returning to the battery by means of the Wire 42. An approaching vehicle from front or rear will have displayed to its driver a red light on the right hand side of the vehicle toward which it is approaching and by this sign the driver will know that there is danger of proceeding toward his left and to the other fellowfs right. The mere presence of the red lamp on either side of themachine will indicate to the approaching driver that he is to avoid that side of the machine. When the switch lever is thrown to the left, the White lamp on the left side of the machine is extinguished and the red lamp lighted while at the same time the white lamp on the right side will remain lighted.

What is claimed is: e v

1. An automobile signaling device comprising pairs of electric lamps mounted on the opposite sides of the forward portion of the automobile, one of each of the pairs of lamps being visible only from the front, and normally lighted, each other of the pairs of lamps being visible from both front and rear when lighted, and a controlling switch for simultaneously extinguishing the forwardly visible lamp of one pair and lighting the doubly visible lamp of the other pair.

2. A signal for an automobile comprising a pair of casings mounted on opposite sides of the automobile, each of said casings being divided into front and rear compartments by colored translucent disks of glass, a similar disk being mounted in the rear of the rear compartment, a transparent disk mounted in the forward end of the forward compartment, an electric lamp mounted in the rear compartment and visible through the colored disks from the front and rear, an electric lamp mounted. in the forward compartment, a reflecting shield mounted at the rear of the last-named lamp to prevent its rays of light being seen from the rear, and-means for simultaneously lighting the lamp of the rear compartment and extinguishing the lamp of the front compar ment.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ELMER C. MOKENZKEQ JUSEPH P, Witnesses:

LEONARD E. Donovan, Jenn R Hanan, 

